§ 26. Mr. Dickensasked the Minister of Power if he will introduce legislation to make the exploration for, and subsequent supply of, indigenous natural gas a responsibility of the Gas Council and the area gas boards.
§ Mr. DickensDoes not my right hon. Friend agree that the present terms under which natural gas will be supplied to the public sector are highly disadvantageous to the public sector? Does he not feel that it would be in the national interest to take indigenous natural gas under public ownership?
§ Mr. MarshThe last point is a separate one, on which there is a later Question. It has to be borne in mind that oil and gas exploration is a highly speculative enterprise. It would not be wise for hon. Members on this side of the House to want to place the whole of the risk on the nationalised gas industry, even if it were physically practicable for the industry to take on the job.
§ Sir J. EdenWould the right hon. Gentleman ensure that the terms agreed with the producers are such as will encourage them to press on as rapidly as possible with further exploration?
§ Mr. MarshObviously, the actual terms which are agreed will be negotiated between the Gas Council and the oil companies. As has been said before, the only figure so far agreed—I think that my hon. Friend was referring to this—is certainly no precedent for any future negotiations.